Method to minimize interference into legacy sdars reception by varying overlay modulating as a function of satellite position

ABSTRACT

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a degree of hierarchical modulation can be varied as a function of satellite position, which can be related to time of day, and where such hierarchical modulation can be a combination of phase and amplitude shifts. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as each satellite in a multiple satellite system broadcasting to North America moves towards a D-node or an A-node position, the offset angle of a phase-based hierarchical modulation scheme can be varied. Thus, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the lowest satellite position in the sky can have the lowest offset angle for overlay bits, which offset angle can, for example, progressively increase as the position of the satellite in the sky increases. At a satellite&#39;s highest point in the sky, the overlay offset angle can, for example, thus be at its maximum. To aid a receiver to receive such varying overlay modulated data, the value of a varying overlay offset angle (for each satellite) can be embedded in an Overlay Identification Marker (OIM) in the bit stream broadcast by that satellite. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention each satellite broadcast receiver can thus decode each satellite&#39;s signal, knowing its respective instantaneous overlay offset angle. The receiver can then use this information to appropriately correct MRC weightings (weighting more heavily the (higher lying) satellite with the higher degree of Layer 2 modulation) before it is MRC combined across various received signal streams. Similar methods can be implemented for other overlay modulation techniques, and the method can be extended to a broadcast system using N satellites, each having a varying degree of Layer 2 modulation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 61/077,742 and 61/079,349, each entitled “METHOD TOMINIMIZE INTERFERENCE INTO LEGACY SDARS RECEPTION BY VARYING OVERLAYMODULATION AS A FUNCTION OF SATELLITE POSITION”, and filed on Jul. 2,2008 and Jul. 9, 2008, respectively, the specifications of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to satellite broadcast communications, andmore particularly to methods and systems for minimizing interferenceinto legacy signal reception by varying overlay modulation as a functionof satellite position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In certain broadcast communications systems, such as, for example,satellite radio, in order to optimize the utilization of a fixedbandwidth, hierarchical modulation (“HM”) can be used to overlay datafor new services on top of a legacy transmission. Such a scheme can beused, for example, to offer additional channels or services. Forexample, in the Sirius XM Radio Inc. (“Sirius”) Satellite Digital AudioRadio Service (“SDARS”), video channels can be sent over existing audiochannels via such an overlay modulation scheme, where the video signalis sent in a “Layer 2” or overlay modulation layer. Similarly, suchLayer 2 data can be used for other types of content, such as data,traffic, etc.

Additionally, it is well known in the SDARS community that signalreception for polar orbiting satellites is a function of satelliteposition in the sky. As a satellite approaches its lowest position inthe sky, the reception is poorest, and conversely, it is best when thesatellite is at it highest position in the sky. This has been a limitingfactor in satellite radio broadcasting systems from their outset.Unfortunately, this problem is not easily rectified, which, ultimately,along with many other factors, can limit the overall throughput of suchbroadcast satellite services.

Sending overlay bits, such as for a video service, for example,compounds this problem, as these bits appear as noise to a legacyreceiver (i.e., a standard SDARS receiver not demodulating the overlaylayer modulation prior to passing the received signal to a legacy signaldemodulator). For example, the Sirius Backseat TV™ video service hasbeen implemented by hierarchically modulating the original (i.e., legacyaudio) Sirius QPSK symbol constellation with video data.

As noted, hierarchical modulation, also known as overlay modulation,appears as a noise-like source to legacy receivers, precisely because itfurther modulates the legacy symbols transmitted such that two symbolshaving the same legacy bit values generally appear in a differentportion of the IQ plane. An additional noise source is un-welcome in anyscenario and in the context of satellite radio is simply a consequenceto pay if additional bandwidth is to be claimed from an SDARS system.

Fortunately, the additional noise source due to overlay modulation isessentially unnoticeable to legacy receivers for most of the positionsof a broadcast satellite in the sky. It is only when a satellite islowest in the sky (for example, at what are known as Ascending A-nodeand Descending D-node times, when a satellite's ground track crosses theequator, for a satellite receiver located in North America) that theadditional noise-like source due to overlay modulation can cause themost harm to legacy receivers. Such harm is generally manifested asadditional mute seconds (FEC coding failure) during the A-node andD-node positions/times of the satellite.

Thus, what is needed in the art are systems and methods that canminimize the harmful effects of overlay modulation on legacy receiversas a broadcast satellite approaches points in the sky where reception ofits signal is at a minimum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a degree ofhierarchical modulation can be varied as a function of satelliteposition, which can be related to time of day, and where suchhierarchical modulation can be a combination of phase and amplitudeshifts. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as eachsatellite in a multiple satellite system broadcasting to North Americamoves towards a D-node or an A-node position, the offset angle of aphase-based hierarchical modulation scheme can be varied. Thus, inexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the lowest satelliteposition in the sky can have the lowest offset angle for overlay bits,which offset angle can, for example, progressively increase as theposition of the satellite in the sky increases. At a satellite's highestpoint in the sky, the overlay offset angle can, for example, thus be atits maximum. To aid a receiver to receive such varying overlay modulateddata, the value of a varying overlay offset angle (for each satellite)can be embedded in an Overlay Identification Marker (OIM) in the bitstream broadcast by that satellite. In exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention each satellite broadcast receiver can thus decode eachsatellite's signal, knowing its respective instantaneous overlay offsetangle. The receiver can then use this information to appropriatelycorrect MRC weightings (weighting more heavily the (higher lying)satellite with the higher degree of Layer 2 modulation) before it is MRCcombined across various received signal streams. Similar methods can beimplemented for other overlay modulation techniques, and the method canbe extended to a broadcast system using N satellites, each having avarying degree of Layer 2 modulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention can be applied to any communicationssystem which employs the use of hierarchical modulation to transmitsecondary or “Layer 2” information. For example, in order to supportfuture services within an original system design (i.e., a “legacysystem”), additional information bandwidth can be acquired by usinghierarchical modulation to overlay data for new services on top of thelegacy transmission. As noted, in a broadcast satellite network, suchas, for example, that of Sirius XM Radio Inc., such overlay data can,for example, be transmitted by applying a programmable angular offset tolegacy QPSK symbols, thus forming, for example, a new constellationsimilar to 8PSK. A description of such an exemplary hierarchicalmodulation scheme is described in U.S. Published Patent Application No.US 2009/0097592, Ser. No. 12/079,782, entitled “HIERARCHICAL OFFSETCOMPENSATION TO IMPROVE SYNCHRONIZATION AND PERFORMANCE”, the disclosureof which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Other methods ofhierarchical modulation, involving further modulating amplitude, or somedefined combination of modulation of both amplitude and phase, can also,for example, be used.

For ease of description, in what follows an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention in which legacy QPSK symbols are modulated with Layer2 information by increasing or decreasing the phase angular offset ofsuch legacy symbols will be described. It is understood that variousother known methods of hierarchical modulation are also contemplated andfully within the techniques of the present invention.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the degree ofhierarchical modulation can be varied as a function of satelliteposition in the sky, which can be related to time of day. This isbecause the transit of each satellite throughout the day, and thus itsaltitude as a function of time, can be a priori known. In exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, for a satellite communicationssystem broadcasting to North America, as each satellite moves towards aD-node or an A-node position, the offset angle used in the overlaymodulation of its signal can be varied. Thus, in exemplary embodimentsof the present invention, a lowest-in-the-sky satellite position canhave the lowest offset angle for the overlay bits which it sends, andsaid offset angle can, for example, progressively increase as theposition of the satellite increases in the sky. At the satellite'shighest point in the sky, the offset angle can, for example, thus be atits maximum. Thus, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention,the higher in the sky satellite can have a significantly larger offsetangle than the lower in the sky satellite, while still having the leastdegradation of the legacy signal due to the overlay modulation.

To aid the receivers, the value of the then current offset angle (foreach satellite) can, for example, be embedded in an OverlayIdentification Marker (OIM) in the broadcast data stream, such as, forexample, in a service channel, thus allowing the overlay modulationlayer to be accurately decoded. Alternatively, the OIM could be part ofthe overlay bit stream, or even the legacy bit stream, for example. Adescription of an exemplary OIM is described in U.S. Published PatentApplication No. US 2009/0168809, Ser. No. 12/183,980, entitled “METHODAND APPARATUS TO JOINTLY SYNCHRONIZE A LEGACY SDARS SIGNAL WITH OVERLAYMODULATION”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. (See FIG. 1, where the OIM appears at the end of a legacytransmission frame).

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each receiver canthus decode each satellite's signal (or, for example, in a satellitebroadcast system where some satellites vary overlay modulation and somedo not, the signal of each of those satellites that does utilize avarying overlay value), and determine its respective instantaneousoverlay offset angle (or, for example, its combination of offset angleand amplitude modulation, for example, in an overlay system utilizingboth amplitude and phase overlay modulation). The receiver can then usethis information to appropriately correct the MRC combining weightingsfor each satellite's signal as a function of its Layer 2 offset anglebefore it is MRC combined across signal streams.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in a satellitebroadcast system using two satellites each utilizing varying overlaymodulation as a function of satellite position being received at anexemplary receiver, an exemplary MRC combining correction factor basedon the different offset angles used in each satellite's Layer 2modulation scheme can utilize a relationship as next described.

First, it is noted that the following provides a classical MRC combiningrule where sigma(N) is the noise power of satellite number N (forexample where N=2):

W1=Sigma2/(sigma1+sigma2); and

W2=Sigma1//(sigma1+sigma2).

Where N>2, for example, the following two examples illustrate theclassical optimal MRC weightings:

The MRC formula for 3 satellites would be:

W1=sigma2*sigma3/(sigma1+sigma2+sigma3);

W2=sigma1*sigma3/(sigma1+sigma2+sigma3); and

W3=sigma1*sigma2/(sigma1+sigma2+sigma3).

The MRC formula for 4 satellites would be:

W1=sigma2*sigma3*sigma4/(sigma1+sigma2+sigma3+sigma4);

W2=sigma1*sigma3*sigma4/(sigma1+sigma2+sigma3+sigma4);

W3=sigma1*sigma2**sigma4/(sigma1+sigma2+sigma3+sigma4); and

W4=sigma1*sigma2**sigma3/(sigma1+sigma2+sigma3+sigma4).

Next, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, these classicalMRC weightings need to be corrected for the relative degree of Layer 2modulation, such as, for example, the difference in Layer 2 offsetangle, using correction factors C1 and C2, as follows:

W1′=W1*C1

W2′=W2*C2

To determine such relative Layer 2 modulation correction factors C1 andC2, for example, depending on which satellite is then using the largeroffset angle, that satellite's correction factor can be set to 1.0. Theother satellite's correction factor, for example, can be set accordingto a formula that reasonably takes into account the relative degree ofLayer 2 modulation then existing between the two satellites. Thus, wherea given satellite has had its overlay modulation signal diminished so asnot to degrade its legacy signal, that satellite's contribution to theoverall overlay modulation signal output by the receiver will beappropriately diminished. In exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, there are various possible metrics that can be used tocapture this relative Layer 2 modulation factor between the satellites.For example, the formula sin(x)/sin(y) can be used, where x is thesmaller Layer 2 offset angle, and y is the larger Layer 2 offset angle,of the two satellites. Thus, the correction factor for the satellitewith the lower degree of Layer 2 modulation (e.g. the satellitelower-in-the-sky), C_(lower satellite), can, for example, be defined as:

C _(lower satellite)=sin(lower offset angle)/sin(higher offset angle).

Thus, for example, if Sat1 is lowest in the sky, it has a lower Layer 2offset angle (to reduce noise in (and degradation of) the legacy signal,as described above). Then Sat2 will have the higher overlay offsetangle, and thus Sat2's correction factor, C2, will be set to 1.0. Sat1'scorrection factor, C1, can then be set to[sin(offset-angle-sat1)/sin(offset-angle-sat2)], or using exemplaryvalues of 5 degrees overlay phase offset for Sat1, and 10 degreesoverlay phase offset for Sat2, C1=sin(5)/sin(10), or C1=0.502, which isa significant relative difference in signal weighting.

As noted, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the offsetangles then being used for the overlay offset can be derived fromexamining, for example, the OIM data field (as described above) withinthe overlay modulated signal from each received bit stream. As alsonoted, the satellite higher in the sky can have a significantly largerLayer 2 offset angle, and yet the Layer 2 modulation will notsignificantly degrade reception of the legacy symbols.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after the correctionfactors are applied to the sliced constellation data, the noise powerfor the lower lying satellite can, for example, also be scaled by thesame factor (for example, 0.502 in the above provided example of 5 and10 degree offsets for the lower lying and higher lying satellites,respectively). This can ensure, for example, that MRC combining acrossthe various satellites can be performed in an optimal fashion.

For satellite broadcast systems utilizing multiple satellites, and wherea given receiver receives more than two satellites at any given time,say N satellites, the exemplary MRC combining correction factors {C1, C2. . . CN} provided above can be appropriately modified to account forthe relative offset angles of each of the N satellites.

Thus, for example, to develop an exemplary general expression for therelative layer 2 modulation correction factors, we begin with twosatellites, Sat1 and Sat2, having Layer 2 offset angles of a1 and a2respectively, where a2>a1:

C1=sin(a1)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)]; and

C2=sin(a2)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)].

It is noted that this formula is almost the same as the classic MRC ruleprovided above, but different since here for the correction factors weare using voltage gains, and not noise powers, as in the MRC case.

Taking these formulas, if we normalize by the satellite with the largerangle a2, the correction factors become:

C2=sin(a2)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)]/{sin(a2)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)]}=1.0; and

C1=sin(a1)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)]/{sin(a2)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)]}=sin(a1)/sin(a2),

as provided above.

Similarly, for 3 satellites the correction factors extend to:

C1=sin(a1)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)+sin(a3)];

C2=sin(a2)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)+sin(a2)]; and

C3=sin(a3)/[sin(a1)+sin(a2)+sin(a2)].

Normalizing, as above, by the correction factor for the largest Layer 2offset angle (say a2, for example) yields:

C1=sin(a1)/sin(a2);

C2=1.0; and

C3=sin(a3)/sin(a2).

The natural extension to N satellites would proceed in an analogousfashion, yielding, for N satellites where ak is the then largest angularoffset:

C 1 = sin (a 1)/sin (ak); C 2 − sin (a 2)/sin (ak); ⋮…  , Ck = 1.0; ⋮ ⋮ …  and CN = sin (aN)/sin (ak).

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, varying the layer 2overlay modulation scheme as a function of satellite position in the skywill greatly reduce legacy signal degradation due to the overlaymodulation scheme.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an angular offsetassociated with a layer 2 overlay phase shift can be, for example,between 0 and 22.5 degrees, and a typical exemplary pairs of phase shiftvalues (a) for two satellites, Sat2 nearer to its high point in the skyand Sat1 nearer to its lowest point in the sky is (a1,a2)=10.15 degreesand (a1,a2)=5.10 degrees.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after detection ofthe instantaneous angular offset in an overlay modulation scheme, theoverlay angular offset can be removed and the I,Q bit sent on tostandard legacy demodulation stages.

1. A method of minimizing interference in satellite communications,comprising: providing an I,Q symbol bit stream modulated with legacydata; and further modulating the I,Q bit stream with a layer 2modulation scheme to encode a second layer of data; and broadcasting thefurther modulated I,Q bit stream from a satellite, wherein said layer 2modulation scheme is varied as a function of the satellite's position inthe sky.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of: (i) thelayer 2 modulation scheme comprises a phase shift, and wherein saidphase shift varies instantaneously as a function of the satellite'sposition in the sky; (ii) the instantaneous value of the overlay phaseshift is transmitted in one of the overlay bit stream, the legacy bitstream and a service channel bit stream; (iii) the instantaneous valueof the overlay phase shift is transmitted in one of the overlay bitstream, the legacy bit stream and a service channel bit stream, and thevalue of the overlay phase shift is embedded in an OverlayIdentification Marker (OIM); (iv) N satellites are used, each having avarying amount of layer 2 modulation, and the signals received from theN satellites are combined using maximal ratio combining, where MRCweightings are corrected by a relative layer 2 modulation correctionfactor; and (v) N satellites are used, each having a varying amount oflayer 2 modulation, the signals received from the N satellites arecombined using maximal ratio combining, where MRC weightings arecorrected by a relative layer 2 modulation correction factor, andwherein the signals received from the N satellites are combined usingmaximal ration combining, where MRC weightings are corrected by arelative layer 2 modulation correction factor. 3-4. (canceled)
 5. Themethod of any of claim 1, wherein the overlay phase shift is at amaximum at the satellite's highest position in the sky and is at aminimum at the satellite's lowest position in the sky.
 6. (canceled) 7.A receiver, comprising: a first receiving stage to receive a first bitstream of I,Q symbols that have been further modulated with a firstvarying overlay phase shift; a first overlay offset angle detectionstage to detect the value of the first offset angle as transmitted; afirst overlay demodulation stage to detect a direction of the firstoverlay phase shift; a second receiving stage to receive a second bitstream of I,Q symbols that have been further modulated with a secondvarying overlay phase shift; a second overlay offset angle detectionstage to detect the value of the second offset angle as transmitted; asecond overlay demodulation stage to detect a direction of the secondoverlay phase shift; and a maximal ratio combining stage that combinesthe first and second overlay bit streams using the following correctionfactors to MRC weightings:C1=sin(offset angle Sat1)/sin(offset angle Sat2); andC2=1.0; wherein C1 is the weight for the first overlay bit stream, C2 isthe weight for the second overlay bit stream, offset angle Sat1 is thefirst offset angle as transmitted and offset angle Sat2 is the secondoffset angle as transmitted, and wherein Sat2>Sat1.
 8. The receiver ofclaim 7, wherein the offset angles are embedded in an OverlayIdentification Marker (OIM) within each bit stream.
 9. The receiver ofclaim 8, wherein the overlay offset angle detection stage detects thevalue of an offset angle by processing the OIM.
 10. The receiver ofclaim 7, wherein after the weight W1 is applied to the first overlay bitstream the noise power for the first satellite can also, for example, bescaled by the same factor.
 11. The receiver of claim 7, furthercomprising a first and a second de-rotation stage to remove a definedangular offset from the received I,Q symbols, wherein each received I,Qsymbol is overlay demodulated and de-rotated prior to being input tolegacy demodulation stages.
 12. The receiver of claim 7, furthercomprising a de-rotation stage to remove a defined angular offset fromthe received I,Q symbols, wherein each received I,Q symbol is overlaydemodulated and de-rotated prior to being input to legacy demodulationstages.
 13. The method of claim 5, wherein the angular offset associatedwith the overlay phase shift is between 0 and 22.5 degrees.
 14. Thereceiver of claim 11, wherein the angular offset associated with eachoverlay phase shift is between 0 and 22.5 degrees.
 15. The receiver ofclaim 7, wherein the angular offset associated with the overlay phaseshift is between 0 and 22.5 degrees. 16-17. (canceled)
 18. A programstorage device readable by a processing unit, tangibly embodying aprogram of instructions executable by the processing unit to implement amethod of minimizing interference in satellite communications, saidmethod comprising: receiving a first bit stream of I,Q symbols that havebeen further modulated with a first varying overlay phase shift;detecting the value of the first offset angle as transmitted; detectinga direction of the first overlay phase shift; receiving a second bitstream of I,Q symbols that have been further modulated with a secondvarying overlay phase shift; detecting the value of the second offsetangle as transmitted; detecting a direction of the second overlay phaseshift; and maximal ratio combining the first and second overlay bitstreams using the following relative layer 2 modulation correctionfactors to MRC weightings:C1=sin(a1)/sin(a2); andC2=1.0; wherein C1 is the correction factor for the first overlay bitstream, C2 is the correction factor for the second overlay bit stream,offset angle a1 is the first offset angle as transmitted and offsetangle a2 is the second offset angle as transmitted, and wherein a2>a1.19. The program storage device of claim 18, further comprisingde-rotating each I,Q symbol by its varying overlay phase shift andpassing the symbol to legacy decoding stages after said de-rotating.20-33. (canceled)